The EZK Cavs Final Big Board (or, COVID-19 Scouting Season)

The NBA Draft is upon us.  Despite having the most time in NBA history to study and dissect the prospects, I can guarantee that teams are going to find gems, make mistakes, and/or get the results they were expecting.  For me, the draft this year has candidly been an escape.  I’ve always liked doing my own analysis and try to prove that I’m smarter than some of these GMs.  Over the years my love for the Cavs have earned me many nicknames from my friends, such as Korean Dan Gilbert and Korean Channing Frye.  Even though I’ve lived in places as far as San Diego, everyone knew that I was very tuned in to the association but especially into the Cavs.

Due to the COVID pandemic this year, I was unfortunately furloughed and worked part time for a good chunk of the year until I recently found a full-time job that brought me back to Ohio.  During that time, I was stressed out and was definitely worried.  However, watching the NBA while also diving in and researching these 18-22 year old players and how they could fit my favorite team gave me something exciting to do and keep my mind engaged.  I could at least temporarily take my mind off stressing out or feeling blue.  Now, while also being in a better situation, it’s time to cash in as all my analysis will come to fruition to prove me right or wrong.

The draft is always an exciting time because it gives teams the opportunity to add talent.  For all teams, this is a night that the respective organizations get better while also providing a temporary escape into dreaming and hoping for better days to come.  So if you want to read another piece of another person’s opinion on this draft, you’ve come to the right place.

(Me and former Cavs GM Chris Grant)

For purposes of this “big board” I will be omitting the alleged “consensus” top three of LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, and Anthony Edwards.  Candidly, I’m not a big believer in any of them and if the Cavs were to trade up, it may be even more disappointing than drafting a player not on my big board.

1. Onyeka Okongwu (C:tB Preview)

My top choice for the Cavs in the draft is none other than the big man from USC, Onyeka Okongwu. Similar to David Wood’s thoughts, I love his floor and think he has upside as well.  The fit may sound clunky, especially now with Andre Drummond expected to come back and Kevin Love looking like a lock to be in Cleveland for at least a couple more years.  However, long term, Okongwu will be a foundation piece and Drummond is a lock to not be a Cav at the latest through this upcoming season.  Okongwu is a man and although he’s young he demonstrates strong instincts and skills to help anchor a defense.  His ultimate upside scenario is being similar to Bam Adebayo (which is at least 2-3 years down the road).  A real expectation is being a big that can help protect the rim while also being flexible to switch in crunch time.  Although not much of a shooter yet, his touch looks strong and he has the shooting mechanic fundamentals (72% FT which is higher than even some of the wings on this list).

Long term as well, Okongwu can be your starting center for 10+ years.  He can fit with Love and Nance easily as well so there’s a potential of continuity while taking a chance.  Let’s face it, the Cavs are likely not going to be too competitive in 20-21 and next year’s draft has at least 5 wings that are better than any of the wing prospects coming out this season.  With that also in mind holistically, why spend a top-5 pick on a player who will likely be replaced in the starting lineup after one season?

2. Tyrese Haliburton (C:tB Preview)

I know, I know.  Another “point guard”?  Haliburton at least around six-foot-five which gives him positional flexibility.  Though extremely wiry at around 185 pounds, Tyrese has demonstrated a strong playmaking skillset with the ability to legitimately lead an offense.  The fit is a little clunky with so many guards but Haliburton can play 1-3 in my opinion while serving as a smart on and off-ball offensive threat.

In addition to his playmaking, I just love how Haliburton competes in all aspects of the game.  He rebounds, he scores, he passes, and he does his best to defend despite not having elite measurables and athleticism. Yes, I know his shot is extremely unorthodox, but it goes in and it’s not mechanically terrible.  For me, Haliburton reminds me a lot of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but not as good of a defender.  For someone who really wanted SGA in the Collin Sexton draft, my personal biases for bigger playmakers may be starting to shine as we go through this list.

3. Killian Hayes (C:tB Preview)

Yes, another “point guard” but hear me out.  Killian Hayes is unique. American born but raised primarily in France, Hayes has the best of both worlds.  His mental is tough while having strong fundamentals imbued in his game after playing against older competition in Europe from day one.  Hayes has the size and length to play 1-3 while having a ton of skills and competing a little bit better on both ends.  That being said, his lack of athleticism and left-hand dominance is what made me put him just slightly behind Haliburton.

Personally, I am convinced Hayes will end up being the best player in the draft considering Cleveland’s FO quickly and definitively decided to not have interest in him (not even wanting to interview him).  Due to his left-handedness and strong stepback offensive game, a lot of people are lazily comparing Hayes as a potential D’Angelo Russell type or Diet James Harden. For me, I see Hayes being more of a Spencer Dinwiddie type , a player who is strong in a lot of offensive aspects and competes on both ends.

4. Isaac Okoro (C:tB Preview)

Okoro ironically may be the best fit for the Cavaliers today.  His defense is a true plus and that is where the Cavs are weakest at, especially on the wing.  His floor is relatively high because of this defensive skillset but for whatever reason, it’s just tough to see the full potential of Okoro pan out.  Relatively, his ceiling is also low due to his shot mechanics being all over the place while also passing up a lot of good looks.  I do think there glimpses of hope as when Okoro shoots off the dribble and doesn’t think as much, his shot is seemingly better.

Some people are higher on Okoro’s offense and they like his finishing ability while seeing a potential as a secondary playmaker.  I just can’t see that at this point and while I will root for the guy since he does all the little things right, it’s just tough for me to not see the potential in such a high pick.  I wouldn’t be upset or disappointed with this pick but it would not get me as excited as the three players above.  On day one, Okoro would be a more athletic Playoff Luguentz Dort with an upside scenario being a bigger Marcus Smart, Andre Iguodala, or Diet Jimmy Butler.

5. Deni Avdija 

In terms of fit, the idea of Deni Avdija makes a ton of sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  He’s a big wing who can theoretically play 1-4 at least offensively while being solid in all aspects of the game.  Avdija can run pick & roll, be a cutter off the ball, shoot spot up (although not good now), lead a fast break, and defend at a strong enough level to not be a liability.  I used to love Avdija a lot too but I realized I was mistakenly loving “the idea” of him.

Avdija is still very young and has the potential to make some of these skills stronger without a doubt but for now, he’s a jack-of-all-trades player.  He’s tough and has the strong intangibles but he has a couple of red flags as well.  His shot just doesn’t go in.  It looks fine mechanically but over his career, Avdija is a sub-60% FT shooter and sub-33% 3pt shooter.  That being said, I still have him a touch ahead of guys like Vassell and Williams because the potential that he develops some of these skills can truly make him a unicorn which is the goal of the draft.  I see a bouncier Cedi Osman on day one with the potential of Hedo Turkoglu, Nic Batum, and maybe a homeless man’s Luka Doncic as upside scenarios.

6. Devin Vassell (C:tB Preview)

Vassell can fit with any NBA team.  In fact, all teams should want players like Vassell.  He is a strong defender and can knock down all the spot-up threes that are given to him.  Vassell has a really high floor and does things that every NBA team covets.  In a perceived weak draft like this year’s class, I completely understand the reasoning of some who argue that teams should take the highest floor prospects they can.  As a mostly risk-averse guy in the real world personally, I can respect that viewpoint.  However, I still don’t think there’s enough justification at 5 to not want to swing the bat at all for someone who has a similar level floor and better upside prospects.

While Devin has the length and lateral quickness to defend at a high level, his athleticism is not elite and his playmaking/dribbling is a skillset that is in the infancy stages of development.  That being said, at this point, it’s very hard to envision Vassell developing into a play initiator.  Vassell can be a great 3&D player.  I believe his impact from day one will be strong but in terms of the draft, it’s really tough for me to value taking a sure thing at 5 vs swinging for something potentially great.  From day one, I envision Vassell being similar to Matisse Thybulle while an upside scenario would be someone like Robert Covington or Khris Middleton (after a lot of development).

7. Patrick Williams

Williams has been shooting up the draft boards due to too much time in my opinion.  A bench player at Florida State while playing with Devin Vassell often, Williams has been a recent climber due to untapped potential and having the measurables of a bigger wing.  I go back to the “idea of” concept.  The idea of Patrick Williams is definitely sexy, one of the youngest players in the draft who has two-way potential while offering at least some usable skills at this juncture.  The tape we have doesn’t demonstrate anything that special to me.  I think his defense is a tad overrated as Williams seems slow-footed.  Long term, I think Williams is best as a 4.

While decent in a lot of aspects, especially for a 19 year old, Williams just seems a bit clunky and not smooth yet.  Perhaps this will greatly improve over time but at this juncture I just have a hard time believing someone should rise this much this quickly.  My day one comp for Williams is Luguentz Dort while an upside scenario could be PJ Tucker/OG Anunoby.

8. Obi Toppin

I’ve tried to like Obi Toppin from day one.  Something about players who come out of nowhere get me excited.  But I just can’t get excited despite the strong offensive game of Toppin.  I understand the thinking of the long term fit, a successor for Kevin Love at the four who can fill up the highlight reel with dunks while also offering a relatively strong outside shot.

Despite those strengths, there’s just a ton of weaknesses in Toppin’s game.  Obi can’t move laterally at all as he seems to be pretty stiff.  In addition, the Cavs organization continues to talk about versatility and defense which Toppin offers very little of unless you realllllllllly stretch the imagination on him.  I just don’t believe Toppin is a player that contributes to winning basketball. Even the players that I think he could become, like Amar’e Stoudemire, were rarely positives.  The rebuild timeline just gets more confusing also when you use the fifth overall pick to add veteran leadership (older than Sexton, Garland, KPJ).  I think Toppin’s offensive game and floor is actually very high but his defense, age, and lack of long term potential just really scares me if the Cavs were to select him.

Conclusion

The Cavs will be one of many NBA teams making a selection in the draft and adding talent can only push the process of making teams better.  Will the Cavs pick be the right player?  The truth is only time will tell.  The draft is not a science but that’s what makes it so exciting and captivating.  While we can all have our opinions, it’s my hope Cleveland makes the right choice to help push this rebuild along.  With the NBA coming back after the shortest and longest offseason ever, let’s just be thankful we will have something to talk about to take our minds off things at least temporarily, for all of our sakes.